The Unstoppable Force Meets the Immovable Object: Does Deathtouch Stop Indestructible?
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The short, sharp answer: No, Deathtouch does not stop Indestructible. A creature with Indestructible cannot be destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy.” While Deathtouch turns any amount of damage into lethal damage, Indestructible laughs in the face of lethal damage. Think of it like this: Deathtouch makes the punch lethal, but Indestructible makes the target immune to the effects of that lethality. Let’s explore why this interaction plays out this way and delve into some common questions regarding Deathtouch.
Understanding Indestructible and Deathtouch
To fully grasp this interaction, we need to define our terms.
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Indestructible: A permanent with Indestructible cannot be destroyed. This means that damage, or effects that specifically use the word “destroy,” have no effect on it. An Indestructible creature can still be exiled, sacrificed, or have its toughness reduced to 0 or less by effects that don’t “destroy.”
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Deathtouch: Any amount of damage dealt by a source with Deathtouch to a creature is considered lethal damage. This essentially means that if a creature with Deathtouch deals even 1 point of damage to another creature, that creature will be destroyed (unless, of course, it has Indestructible or some other preventing effect).
The key here is the word “destroy.” Deathtouch makes damage lethal, resulting in destruction. Indestructible simply negates the ability for the creature to be destroyed by lethal damage.
Why Indestructible Prevails
Imagine a creature with Deathtouch and 5 power attacking a creature with Indestructible and 5 toughness. The Deathtouch creature deals 5 damage. Normally, this would be more than enough to destroy a creature. But because the defending creature has Indestructible, the damage does not destroy it. The damage still occurs, but the consequence of that damage (destruction) is negated.
It is a fundamental aspect of Magic: The Gathering’s rules structure.
Deathtouch FAQs: Expanding Your Knowledge
Here are some common questions about Deathtouch, exploring its interactions with other mechanics:
1. Does Deathtouch work against Hexproof?
Yes. Hexproof only prevents a permanent from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Deathtouch is a static ability that applies when a creature deals damage, not when it is the target of a spell or ability. The damage source might be targeted, but Deathtouch is not.
2. Does Deathtouch prevent all damage?
No. Deathtouch doesn’t prevent damage. It simply changes the consequence of that damage. Any amount of damage dealt by a source with Deathtouch becomes lethal damage, resulting in the destruction of the creature (unless that creature has Indestructible or another prevention effect).
3. How does Deathtouch work with Trample and Indestructible?
Trample allows an attacking creature to deal excess combat damage to the defending player after assigning lethal damage to the blocking creature. When attacking an Indestructible creature, you must still assign enough damage to it to equal it’s toughness, even though no amount of damage will destroy the Indestructible creature. You can only trample over once lethal damage has been assigned.
4. Does Deathtouch affect noncombat damage?
Absolutely. Deathtouch applies to any damage dealt by the source, not just combat damage. Activated abilities, triggered abilities, and even fight spells can all trigger Deathtouch.
5. Does Deathtouch apply poison counters?
Some cards specifically link Deathtouch and poison counters. However, Deathtouch itself does not inherently apply poison counters. Specific cards, like Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence, create this connection.
6. Does Deathtouch negate Double Strike? How Does Double Strike Work With Deathtouch?
Double Strike means a creature deals combat damage twice in the combat phase: once during the first-strike combat damage step and again during the normal combat damage step. If a creature with Deathtouch and Double Strike blocks or is blocked by a creature, the creature with Double Strike will deal damage first during the first-strike damage step. If that damage is enough to destroy the opposing creature (and it doesn’t have Indestructible), it will be destroyed before it can deal damage back. If the opposing creature survives the first strike damage, it will deal damage back to the creature with double strike and deathtouch during the normal damage step.
7. Does Deathtouch work when two creatures fight?
Yes. “Fight” is an ability that causes two creatures to deal damage to each other equal to their power. Deathtouch applies to this damage, so any damage dealt by a creature with Deathtouch in a fight is considered lethal damage.
8. Does Deathtouch get around protection?
It depends. Protection prevents damage from sources with the specified quality (e.g., protection from red prevents damage from red sources). If the damage is prevented, Deathtouch does not apply. However, if the source of Deathtouch damage does not have the characteristic that the target is protected from, then protection will not apply.
9. Can Deathtouch kill Fog Bank?
No. Fog Bank prevents all combat damage that would be dealt to it. Since it takes no damage, there is nothing for Deathtouch to turn lethal.
10. Can Deathtouch kill a Planeswalker?
No. Deathtouch only affects creatures. Damage dealt to a Planeswalker is not affected by Deathtouch unless a specific ability allows it to (like the mentioned Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence).
11. Does Deathtouch kill regenerate?
Regenerate creates a replacement effect that prevents the destruction of a creature and removes it from combat. If a creature about to be destroyed by Deathtouch is regenerated, it will survive.
12. Does Shroud negate Deathtouch?
No. Shroud only prevents a permanent from being targeted by spells or abilities. Deathtouch does not target.
13. What happens if you block with Deathtouch?
If a creature with Deathtouch blocks another creature, any damage it deals is considered lethal damage. This means the blocked creature will be destroyed (unless it has Indestructible or some other preventing effect).
14. Does First Strike negate Deathtouch?
A creature with First Strike deals combat damage before creatures without First Strike. If a creature with First Strike deals enough damage to destroy a creature with Deathtouch before it deals damage, the creature with Deathtouch will be destroyed before it can deal its damage.
15. How does Deathtouch and Lifelink work together?
Deathtouch and Lifelink work independently. Deathtouch makes damage lethal, while Lifelink causes the controller of the creature with Lifelink to gain life equal to the damage it deals. Dealing 1 damage with a creature with both Deathtouch and Lifelink will destroy the creature and grant you 1 life.
The Enduring Appeal of Deathtouch
Deathtouch is a powerful and versatile ability in Magic: The Gathering. While it can’t overcome Indestructible, its ability to turn any amount of damage into lethal damage makes it a potent tool in combat and other situations. Understanding its interactions with other abilities is crucial for mastering the game.
Magic: The Gathering is not only a fun and challenging game, but also a great tool to teach strategic thinking, probability and resource management. The Games Learning Society is dedicated to exploring the educational aspects of games. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.